Developing a Quality Management System: An operating system for a quality-driven learning organisation (NHS Wales Executive)

Summary

Internationally there is recognition that a holistic quality management system (QMS) approach will enable healthcare organisations to meet the needs of their populations and continuously improve the care and experience provided.

In NHS Wales, the Duty of Quality was introduced in 2023 through the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 20201 and requires Welsh NHS bodies to establish an effective QMS where appropriate focus is placed upon Quality Control, Quality Planning, Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance

Content

The 90-day cycle methodology was used to explore how high performing organisations manage for quality – identifying universal findings across all the organisations, a summary of what a QMS can achieve and the importance of the role of the Board. The findings informed the development of a QMS Framework for healthcare which has supported the development of the Duty of Quality and includes:

• A definition of quality: Continuously, reliably and sustainably meeting the needs of the population that we serve (aligned to the Duty of Quality).
• A definition of QMS for NHS Wales: An operating framework to continuously, reliably and sustainably meet the needs of the population we serve.
• Descriptions of the four aspects within a QMS: Quality Planning, Quality Improvement, Quality Control and Quality Assurance and examples of tools and resources that can be used to support their implementation.
• Descriptions of the organisation enablers for a QMS: leadership, workforce and culture; learning, improvement and research; whole system approach; and, information (aligned to the Duty of Quality Standards).
• A methodology to implement and embed a QMS: an adaptation of Quality as an Organisational Strategy (QOS) informed by the experience of piloting the approach at directorate and organisation level.